My word for 2021 hit me like a ton of bricks. I was actually in the shower, listening to one of my favorite songs this year, “Clean,” by Hey Violet.
It was one of those songs I loved from the first time I heard of it then listened to it on repeat for, like, a solid week, earning it a spot on my Spotify top 100.
The chorus hits so close to home for me, with what will hopefully be the finality of my divorce coming in less than a month.
Don’t know how I came out (Clean)
My conscious is (Clean)
I broke it off (Clean)
I’ve washed my hands of you (Clean)
I wiped the slate (Clean)
There ain’t a trace (Clean)
I’ve washed my hands of you
Like Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
I saw the light (I saw the light)
Like Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
Made it to the other side (Clean)
Clean (Clean) Clean (Clean)
I’ve washed my hands of you
This time last year, I still felt guilty about walking away. This time last year, I still had so much healing to do. I’m not saying that everything is perfect and that I feel 100% OK about my marriage and divorce (I had a big cry fest about a week ago) but I’m getting there! It took a lot of hard work and learning about myself to get to this point, and I’m proud of myself.
I think clean is a pretty universal word for 2021 as well. My friends and I all danced our way into 2020, not realizing what was ahead. I think we’re all cautiously optimistic about what’s in store for 2021. With the approval and beginning of the distribution of vaccines, there’s hope on the horizon.
Like Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
Made it to the other side (Clean)
In the meantime, continue to wash those hands.
I’ve said this before, but I could not have gotten through 2020 (or 2019 for that matter!) without my amazing safety net of friends and family. And I know that there are women who are not so lucky. I created a collection in my shop to celebrate my word of the year, and the royalties from the CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN collection will go to DASH – District Alliance for Safe Housing, to help other women with their clean start.
DASH is an innovator in providing access to safe housing and services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their families as they rebuild their lives on their own terms.
We envision a culture where safe housing is a human right shared by everyone.
No matter what the situation, we meet survivors where they are and strive to eliminate all barriers that prevent them from accessing safe housing. We work to ensure that all survivors have the tools and skills they need to be exactly who they choose to be and to create and maintain safe homes.
We support partner agencies in the national capital region and throughout the United States in increasing their capacity to assist survivors in accessing safe housing. DASH educates policy makers and service providers nationwide on the principles and best practices of successfully assisting survivors of domestic violence in recognizing that they are empowered and whole.
If you’d like to donate to DASH directly on your own, you can do so here.
Do you have a word of the year? I’d love to know what is driving you to have an awesome 2021!
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